By Clint Thompson Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor tells farmers something they already knew – it is wet across the Southeast region. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows sufficient moisture in Alabama, Georgia and most of Florida. Only a portion of Miami-Dade County in Florida shows abnormally dry conditions. “They’re not even showing any abnormally dry conditions in Georgia …
Rain, Rain Go Away: Wet Summer Impacting Pecan Trees
By Clint Thompson A wet summer only got wetter this week for parts of Southeast Georgia in the path of Tropical Storm Elsa. While the steady rainfall in June and so far in July has replenished the moisture in the soil, it has had a negative impact on the state’s pecan trees. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny …
Starting Off: Pecan Variety Selection Essential to Long-Term Sustainability
By Clint Thompson Sustainable pecan production starts before the producer plants their tree. The right variety selection could lead to reduced chemical sprays for scab disease, which could save the producer time and money over the course of their pecan trees. Picking varieties like Zinner and Avalon could have positive ripple effects for growers trying to overcome high input costs. …
Dissipating Drought: Recent Rains Bring Sufficient Moisture to Southeast
A wet June has help alleviate some of the drought being experienced across the Southeast, according to Thursday’s updated release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. This is especially true for South Florida, a region that has been challenged with dry conditions for some time. Currently, only a few counties are experiencing abnormally dry conditions. These include the majority of Miami-Dade …
Farming Basics App Provides Answers to Key Issues
A successful farming career means answering a multitude of questions in a timely and efficient manner. What pest is this? How can I treat this disease? What if there was a way for Alabama producers to click their way to answers without having to leave their fields? The Farming Basics app from Alabama Extension offers growers that connection for quick …
Sneak Peek: July 2021 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson The 2021 Florida, Georgia and Alabama legislative sessions have officially wrapped up, and the July issue of VSCNews magazine will tell readers how agriculture fared in each state. Adam Basford, director of state legislative affairs for Florida Farm Bureau, discusses the successes and ongoing work in Tallahassee this session. He highlighted the state’s updated Florida’s Right to …
U.S. Drought Monitor Update: Florida’s Dry Conditions Diminishing
According to the Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, dry conditions are slowly diminishing in Florida, especially in the southern part of the state. While most counties, including Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Hendry, Collier and Glades are still abnormally dry, none are in a moderate drought. Other counties that are partially abnormally dry include Polk, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota in …
When Will it End? Pallet Shortage Continues
By Clint Thompson One of the most challenging aspects of vegetable production this season doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon. In fact, it may only worsen when South Florida’s fall production comes back online. The idea of a pallet shortage was unfathomable for producers prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. But it’s a continuing problem with no end in …
North Florida Melon Season Nearing End
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are nearing an end in North Florida. It’s time to take stock of how production went this season as 80% to 90% of the region’s crop has been harvested. Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, said farmers were satisfied with how this year transpired. “Prices really dictate their happiness. For …
Grower Awareness: Hemp Producers be Mindful of Disease Development
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s hemp season is still in its early stage, but crop disease is quickly becoming a concern for the state’s producers. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, said weather conditions have been ripe for disease development. “We hadn’t had rain in maybe about a week, then in some spots we got six inches in …